French Polynesia encompasses 118 islands and atolls spread across five archipelagos in the central South Pacific. For charter guests, the territory offers something genuinely rare: turquoise lagoons surrounded by barrier reefs, volcanic peaks draped in tropical vegetation, and a Polynesian culture that remains vibrant and welcoming.
The Society Islands — anchored by Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora — form the primary charter ground. Bora Bora's lagoon is legendary, but Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, and Taha'a each deliver their own character. The passages between islands are manageable, the anchorages are well-charted, and the water clarity is extraordinary.
Beyond the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago offers world-class diving among coral atolls — Rangiroa and Fakarava in particular draw serious divers. The Marquesas, further north, are raw volcanic islands with a different, more rugged character.
Charter season runs year-round, with the dry season (May to October) offering the most reliable weather. The wet season (November to April) is warmer and more humid but less crowded. Water temperatures remain above 26°C throughout the year.
- Bora Bora lagoon — snorkelling with reef sharks and rays in turquoise water
- Rangiroa and Fakarava — world-class drift diving through coral passes
- Moorea — Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay, two of the Pacific's most dramatic anchorages
- Black pearl farms and vanilla plantations of Huahine and Raiatea
The dry season (May–October) brings settled trade winds, lower humidity and excellent diving visibility. July and August are peak months — the weather is reliable and the Heiva festival fills Tahiti with music and dance. November to April is the wetter season, with higher temperatures and occasional cyclone risk in the Tuamotus, though the Society Islands rarely receive direct hits.
French Polynesia is the South Pacific dream made tangible. A yacht charter through the Society Islands puts guests inside those impossibly blue lagoons, with volcanic peaks rising above and coral gardens visible through the hull. The experience is as close to paradise as yacht chartering gets.
What elevates French Polynesia beyond the postcard imagery is the variety. Bora Bora delivers the iconic overwater luxury. Moorea offers dramatic volcanic scenery and excellent snorkelling. Huahine and Taha'a are quieter, more authentically Polynesian, with vanilla plantations and pearl farms. And for guests who want to extend the voyage, the Tuamotu atolls provide some of the world's finest diving.
Drivas Yachts arranges charters on both motor yachts and sailing catamarans operating in French Polynesia. The calm lagoon waters and reliable trade winds make this an excellent destination for both types. We can design itineraries from intimate four-day Moorea circuits to ambitious two-week voyages spanning the Society and Tuamotu archipelagos.
Bora Bora lagoon anchorage beneath Mount Otemanu
Swimming with manta rays and reef sharks
Private motu beach picnics
Polynesian culture and vanilla plantations
